Read Online Christmas in the Rink by Dora Hiers - Free Book Online

she sputtered.
    Grinning, he sank to his knees in the snow next to Annabelle. “I need your help, sweetheart.” Together, they focused on making a giant sphere, his hands covering her smaller ones as they rolled the glob through the snow, her oohing and ahhing the bigger it got. OK, so maybe he wanted to show off his snowman making skills. But it was also the most fun he’d had in years. “There. I think that’s—”
    Something smacked his cheek. Something cold and wet. He swiped at his face, his hand coming away…white.
    A snowball.
    He flicked the snow off his hand and his head whipped around towards Chaney. She was doubled over, her arms clutching her waist, convulsing with laughter, the hearty sound making his heart somersault. He scooped up a glob of snow and pelted it at her, aiming for her lowered head. It hit the mark.
    “Oh!” Chaney’s gloved hand rubbed the spot on her hat. When she glanced up, he fired another round. “Oh!” Her boots did a tiny dance in place, and then she dived behind the nearest shrub. “You’re going to get it now, Weddington!” she squealed, her voice quivering with laughter.
    He scooped up a fistful of snow and packed it tight, then handed it to Annabelle. “When Aunt Chaney pokes her head away from the bush, fire away, Annabelle!” He ordered and turned to leave.
    “OK,” Annabelle agreed.
    He put a finger up to his lips, indicating not to give away his plan of attack.
    “Give it all you got, Mitchum! Let’s see what you’re made of.” He hollered, then hunched over, tiptoeing through the snow as quietly as a six-foot man could, taking care that his boots didn’t crunch too much.
    Chaney’s laughter tinkled out, cutting through the stillness of the morning and the sounds of far off traffic. Her head popped up over the shrub and her eyes widened.
    “Throw it, Annabelle!” he ordered.
    Annabelle’s sweet giggles coincided with a plop, her snowball landing a few inches from him. He turned around and glared at the culprit. “You’re supposed to aim for your Aunt Chaney. Not me.”
    Annabelle’s tiny face crackled, and more giggles erupted. She twirled around, clapping, and then reached down to scoop up more snow.
    He’d get her later. First, another Mitchum was calling his name. He turned back around, and—
    Splat. This one landed on his cheek.
    “You are so going to get it now!” He gave up all pretense of sneaking and charged the bush.
    Like a bunny, she darted out from behind the bush and raced across the yard next to the skating rink, her boots sinking deep into the snow. Three huge steps, and he managed to snag her waist, slowing her progress.
    That’s all he’d intended to do, but she twisted in his arms, laughing and swatting at him, trying to untangle herself from his grasp. His boots lost their traction, and he lurched forward. Somehow, he managed to regain his balance, but in the process, he tightened his grip on Chaney, and she plowed into his chest, snuggling right next his heart, the top of her fuzzy hat tickling his chin.
    “Oh!” Her laughter stopped abruptly, and she arched her back to peer up at him, her eyes wide and gorgeous, so full of life and…joy. Her mouth rounded, and her eyes transformed, suddenly glittering with an emotion infinitely more dangerous. Something that matched his own?
    Church bells chimed in the distance, but the pulse pounding through his head stamped out all other sounds. Her arms wound around his neck, and time stopped. And his lungs.
    When her lids fluttered over those creamy cheeks and she lifted her face, he leaned down, counting the milliseconds until he tasted the sweetness—
    Something slammed into his legs, throwing him off kilter. He tightened his grip on Chaney. His head whipped around and down to—
    “Hug,” a sweet little voice said. One of Annabelle’s miniature arms latched around his leg; the other wrapped around Chaney’s.
    Just like those little arms, gratitude latched around his heart.